Bottle stopper lock



0 6 w w fl wag? INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 30, 1936. F. E. VANDERHOOF BOTTLE STOPPER LOCK Original Filed Oct. 20, 1934 wi'russsz Patented June 30, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 7 2,046,224 Y B( )TTLE1STOPPER LOCK Frank Edward 'Vanderhoof, v Greenwich, Conn, assignoi' to Frank Woodrow. Vanderhoof,

Greenwich, Conn.

Application October 20, 1934, SeriaLNo. 749,209

- Renewed May 19, 1936 2 Claims." (01. 215-54)v This invention relates to bottle stopper locks, and constitutes'an improvement over my pending United States patent application Serial No. 737,138, filed July 27, 1934.

Theprimary object of the invention resides in -a bottle stopper which may belocked in the neck 'of a bottle to prevent unauthorized access to the contents ofthe bottle. This bottle stopper lock will be found useful in connection with bottles containing spirituous liquors, poisons, perfumes, medicines and other like substances to prevent tampering with the contents of the bottle unbeknown to the owner thereof.

In the above mentioned application, I provided locking engagement between the stopper and the inner walls of the neck of a bottle at two opposed points, and this invention distinguishes therefrom by reason of a construction which provides an even and equal locking engagement between the stopper and the bottle neck entirely therearound, so as to effect a tighter locking action and to more positively seal the contents of the bottle.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a yieldable bottle stopper which normally may, freely fit into the neck of a bottle, and the same expanded circumferentially by key actuated wedge means into tight frictional engagement with the walls of the neck of a bottle.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of the neck of a bottle showing my invention in use thereon, the actuating key being removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view with the stopper in locked position within the neck of a bottle and showing the expander member in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2, but showing the actuating key in position for use.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the lock stopper per se.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the expander member and the wedge screw removed therefrom.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral l0 designates my improved bottle stopper and lock in its entirety which includes a yieldable plug body ll adapted to be constructed of rubber, cork or like material in which the inherent characteristic is such that the material may be expanded from a pressure within and upon release of such pressure the material will return to its normal position. Extending inwardly from the. topof the'body ll centrally thereof, is arecess or socket i2, the same-terminating short of the bottom wall of the body.

. Cemented to or otherwise secured to the top of the body and extended beyond the plane of the said body is a rigid cap l3 and fixedly secured to the cap and extending into the recess I2 is a metallic sleeve member 14. The lower or inner end of the sleeve member I4 is slit inwardly at various radial points as at IE to provide radially disposed resilient fingers it, they normal tendency of the fingers being to assume a retracted position as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing.

The sleeve member I is internally screw threaded as at I! inwardly from the top end and the threaded bore is of uniform diameter and formed upon the inner side of the resilient fingers [6 are beveled or inclined wedge faces l8. Threading into the screw threaded bore I! of the sleeve member I4 is a wedge screw I9, the inner end of which is cone shaped as at for wedging engagement with the inclined faces 18 when the wedge screw is screwed home against the said faces I8. The top end of the wedge screw is provided with a key socket 2i and which socket may be made from various configurations to receive different shaped keys. For manually actuating the wedge screw I9, a removable key 22 is provided, which key includes a handle portion 23 at one end and a key portion 24 at its opposite end for fitting into the key socket 2! whereby manipulation of the key may turn the wedge screw in either direction.

In the drawing, I have illustrated my improve bottle stopper and lock in association with the neck A of a bottle B, and normally the body H is of a size to freely fit into the neck A. After insertion of the plug body H and should it be desired to lock the stopper therein, the key 22 is engaged with the wedge screw l9 and the key turned to feed the screw I9 inwardly until the cone end 20 wedges against the inclined surfaces l8 of the fingers I6. Such wedging action causes the fingers Hi to expand outwardly and such expansion effects the similar expansion or distention of theyieldable plug body I I circumferentially into tight frictional engagement with the inner walls of the neck A as best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. Due to the circumferential expand- 7 ing of the yieldable plug body II, a positive seal plug body II causes contraction of the said'plug body, thuspermitting" the free-removal of the 1 stopper by grasping the can l3 and pulling out is efiected between'the stopper andthe walls of the bottle neck, and a more eflective seal and a more positive locking'action results. a

1 In the event that it is desired to remove the stopper, the key is again connected with the wedge screw l9 and the said screwturned to move the same outwardly, whereuponthe natural tendency of the'resilient fingers I6 is to become retraeted and vthe natural characteristics of the yieldable',

wardly'thereon.

While I have shown and described 'wna't'i'on sider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes and alterations as come withini'tfie scope Y of the claims may be resorted to if desired. Having thus described the invention, what I claim a'snew and desire to secure'by Letters Pat:- em; of the United states, i's:-

;1.. A bottle stopper comprising a yieldable plug I body; a rigid c'ap fixedly attached to'tliesfto'p of said plug body 'andjextendin'g'bey-ond the'pl'ane wof; thesides of said plug body, a sleeve member fixed to said cap andfop'ening through the outer side thereof and embedded centrally withifi-said yieldable plug body, radially *d'isposed expansible fingers formed on the inner end of said sleeve member; said sleevemember being uniformly internally screw threaded inwardly from its 'top into frictional fcontact withthe i'n'ner of the heck'bf a bottle. r 1 I '2. A bottle stopper comprisin'g'a yieldableplug 10 body, a rigid cap-fixedly attached to the top of "said pmg lody, a sleeve member fixed to said cap and opening through the outer side thereof and ehibedde'd centrally within said yieldable plug body, radially disposed expansible fingers formed 5 on the inner end of said sleeve member, said sleeve m'ember beingr uniformly internally screw threaded inwardlyyfrom its top end, inclined wedge faces provided on the inner sides of said eig'pansible fingers, a screw threaded into the 20 threaded portionof saidr'sle'e'v'e m'mbe'rinwifdly r V or the ito'p' thereof and :provided with a boriiwl with the inclined faces dn said fingers to 1 said finger's u'pon inwar'ds'crewing of said-Screw to cause said 'plu'gibod'y' to be *distended mama *tion'ai contact with' the inner'walls 0f a bottle, a key Socket provided ii) the end of samscrew; and "a removable "key foresee:

tively fitting "into said key isocket by which "-50 '7 "screw may be manually turned;

- FRANK EDWARD VA DEaHooF. 

